Cameron Smith Big 12 Pitcher of Week for 3rd Time

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Cameron Smith (source:Texas Tech University)

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech senior left-handed pitcher Cameron Smith (Seabrook, Texas) became the first Red Raider in school history to earn three Big 12 Pitcher of the Week selections, the league office announced this afternoon.

Smith was also named the league's top pitcher of the week on March 16 and April 6, gives the Red Raiders their sixth overall Big 12 weekly award winner this season. He is the second Big 12 pitcher this season (Oklahoma State's Michael Freeman) to earn the award on three occasions.

Overall, Smith's selection marks him the 22nd all-time by a Texas Tech pitcher. In addition, not only is Smith the first Red Raider to earn three weekly awards in a season, it marks the first time in school history that Tech has been awarded three pitcher of the week selections in one year.

Smith pitched 8.1 shutout innings during Tech's 7-1 victory over K-State on Saturday while allowing only two base runners to reach scoring position, four hits, two walks and struck out six batters. He earned his fifth win of the season (13th career) while retiring 11 consecutive batters from the first-to-fifth inning and had at least one strikeout in each of the first five frames. In addition, Smith also retired seven straight batters from the sixth-to-eighth inning.

Tech has held its opponent to one or fewer runs eight times this season – four of those were starts by Smith. Tech is now 11-2 in 13 career starts by Smith and the Red Raiders are now 25-10 during Smith's 35 career starts as a Red Raider.

In addition, Smith made his ninth consecutive start pitching at least five innings while recording his third scoreless start of the season. He improved to 2-0 career against the Wildcats with a perfect 0.00 ERA with two starts, 13.1 innings, five hits allowed, 11 strikeouts and three walks.